Sarah Palin confirms she will not run for presidency - campaigners left high and dry

In a statement to her supporters on Wednesday Sarah Palin announced she will not run for President in 2012. But the big announcement was completely overshadowed by the news of Apple CEO Steve Job's passing.

Stating that her 'family comes first' Palin wrote: 'After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for president of the United States.'

Shortly after the announcement Palin appeared on Fox News to explain her decision.

'I believe I can be an effective voice in a real decisive role in helping get true public servants elected to office,' she told Greta van Sustern.

In typical Palin fashion she also used the opportunity to aim barbs at rival Chris Christie, suggesting she had not requested a big press conference because it was 'not about me.'

'I wanted to, you know, just kind of put the marker down and say, No, I'm not running, not have a big press conference about it, not make a big darn deal about it because this isn't about me. And it's not about Chris Christie.'

Palin's announcement comes after revelations in a new book that she had snorted cocaine off an oil drum while snowmobiling with friends in Alaska and had illicit affairs with 6ft 8 NBA star Glen Rice and with Brad Hanson, one of her husband's former business partners.

In Joe McGinniss's book The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin the author claims that the former governor of Alaska (before she resigned) is far from the traditional family woman she claims to be.